Shangri-La Tokyo reopens tomorrow, April 14, 2011, after unstable conditions in Tokyo – caused by a devastating tsunami in northeastern Japan – prompted a temporary closure of the 200-room hotel (see news).
General manager Wolfgang Krueger told Business Traveller that all 300 employees were back at work, sprucing up the guestrooms and public areas and readying back-of-the-house operations in time for the opening hour of 7am on Thursday. "We have some foreign and local Japanese bookings," Krueger said. He added that staff morale was kept high throughout the work moratorium "by keeping in touch with them through their mobile phones". They also received their regular salaries and travel allowances.
While Shangri-La Tokyo plans to open all its outlets, it will be mindful of heeding the government's request to observe prudent use of electricity. Said Krueger: "We will turn off lights when they are not needed and manage the use of the air conditioning."
For more details, visit www.shangri-la.com
Margie T Logarta
